“We can play Nando and Didier or Nando and Costa – like we did in Vitesse Arnhem on Wednesday when he played from the side. Maybe we could even play both through the middle.

“When we are not winning matches, sometimes we play with three defenders and two strikers. Nando will always be a choice and a very useful player for us.”

A very useful player – but not the main man.

Roman Abramovich has had to dip back into his pocket and there is little doubt that £32m new boy Costa is going to be the key to goals for Chelsea this season.

(Image: Srdjan Stevanovic)

Speaking at Chelsea’s pre-season camp in Holland, Mourinho revealed he spent seven months planning for the arrival of the man who led Atletico Madrid on a fantastic domestic and European ­adventure last season.

Costa bagged 36 goals in all competitions – more than Torres has scored in his past two seasons at Chelsea.

Mourinho said: “We needed to transform our squad a bit and especially the striker and midfielder position. We identified clearly the profile of the players we needed.

“With Diego we always had the feeling from six or seven months ago that we could ­possibly get him. We decided it probably would be good for us not to buy a striker in January ­because we knew we could get THE striker in June.

“So that was a very good decision by the club to wait for the striker we wanted.”

And it is a piece of business that Chelsea officials are delighted with, as they believe their squad is now stronger than ever.

Mourinho explained: “Last season he was not regular first-choice for us. As a central defender not at all, it was John Terry and Gary Cahill the whole season.

“In midfield, he was a physical guy and gave us important things, especially in the Champions League when [the cup-tied Nemanja] Matic couldn’t play. But this season Matic can play in the Champions League so we don’t lose that physicality.

"The fact we have Cesc Fabregas, moves us in a different direction. It’s something that our football needs, and we want to go in that direction.

“David did important things here, was always a good professional and we will miss him as a good guy. But from a football point of view, we believe our squad is stronger this season than it was.”

'We need to show more pride in the Premier League'

(Image: Action Images)

Jose Mourinho fears the country has lost pride in the Premier League.

The Special One quit English football in 2007, and since returning last year has noticed a change of passion.

He explained: “We should be more proud about our league. People in other countries say, ‘Our league is the best in the world.’ But how many clubs in other countries can spend £30million on a player like Everton did? In Spain, only three. In Germany, only two. Portugal, zero. France, one and a half...

“We don’t defend ourleague and that can affect self-esteem and put doubt in players’ minds.

“How can England go to a World Cup and not be thinking, ‘We are good enough to win’?

“In my last spell here we were feeling the best and would have three teams in European semi-finals. Last year it was only us in the semi-finals, even if you count the Europa League.”

But he also warned: “The FA and Premier League have to give a little help, and also the TV companies because some decisions are against that.

“Let’s defend what is ours.”

'No sentiment in new contract for Terry'

(Image: Getty)

John Terry earned a new Chelsea contract after producing the best form of his life.

That is the message from Jose Mourinho, as he shot down any suggestion that sentiment was attached to the 33-year-old ’s latest one-year deal.

Mourinho said: “John had the sort of season where I can’t remember him having a better one. He basically played every match at a high level and when you have a player able to perform during the whole season, you believe he can do the same.

“So the contract he got is based on performance. Not on status or captaincy or anything like that.”